Recentering adapters for exit device assemblies
A recentering adapter for biasing a position of at least a drive spindle coupled to a first cam and a tailpiece coupled to a second cam of an exit device assembly. The recentering adapter can include a support plate having one or more protrusions and a cam having one or more arms. At least one leg of a biasing element can engage an arm of the cam as the cam is rotated away from a home position, while another leg of the biasing element remains engaged with the support plate. A cover plate and support plate can include apertures that provide first and second aperture pairs. A handing body can engage one of the first and second aperture pairs such that the handing body is positioned to engage an arm of the cam so as to limit a direction the cam is rotatable away from the home position.
1 . A recentering adapter for biasing a position of at least a drive spindle and a tailpiece of an exit device assembly, the recentering adapter comprising:
a housing comprising a first opening;
a cover comprising a second opening, the cover configured for removable coupling to the housing, the cover and the housing defining at least a portion of an interior area of the recentering adapter;
a support plate configured for placement in the interior area, the support plate comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, wherein the first protrusion comprises:
a first inner handing aperture aligned with a first outer handing aperture of the cover to thereby provide a first aperture pair, wherein the first aperture pair is configured to receive selective insertion of a handing body; and
a second inner handing aperture aligned with a second outer handing aperture of the cover to thereby provide a second aperture pair, wherein the second aperture pair is configured to receive selective insertion of the handing body;
a biasing element comprising a first leg and a second leg, at least a portion of the second protrusion is positioned in a gap between the first and second legs of the biasing element; and
a cam comprising a first end, a second end, a first arm, and a second arm, the first end aligned with the first opening and configured for coupling to the tailpiece, the second end aligned with the second opening and configured for coupling to the drive spindle, the cam being mounted for rotation relative to the support plate in each of a first direction and a second direction from a home position within the interior area, wherein, when the cam is rotated in the first direction, the first leg of the biasing element is displaced by engagement with the second arm as the cam is rotated and the second leg remains engaged with the second protrusion, the biasing element being configured to bias the cam to the home position;
wherein, with the handing body received in the first aperture pair, the handing body interferes with the first arm to thereby prevent rotation of the cam away from the home position in the second direction; and
wherein, with the handing body received in the second aperture pair, the handing body interferes with the first arm to thereby prevent rotation of the cam away from the home position in the first direction.
2 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for the handing body to be selectively removable from the recentering adapter from a location outside of the interior area while the cover is securely coupled to the housing.
3 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for a driving force outside of the interior area to selectively drive the handing body into engagement with either the first aperture pair or the second aperture pair while the cover is securely coupled to the housing.
4 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein when the handing body is positioned in the second aperture pair, the second leg of the biasing element is displaced by engagement with the second arm as the cam is rotated in the second direction, the first leg remaining engaged with the second protrusion as the cam is rotated in the second direction.
5 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first and second inner handing apertures are positioned on opposite sides of the first protrusion.
6 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the support plate and the housing form a monolithic structure.
7 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the cam includes a first aperture configured to receive placement of at least a portion of the tailpiece and the second end includes a second aperture configured to receive placement of at least a portion of the drive spindle, and wherein the recentering adapter is configured to bias a first cam coupled to the tailpiece to a first home position and bias a second cam coupled to the drive spindle to a second home position.
8 . The recentering adapter of claim 1 , wherein the cam includes a guide wall configured to engage the support plate in a manner that limits an extent to which the first end of the cam extends through the first opening of the housing.
9 . A recentering adapter comprising:
a housing comprising a first opening;
a cover plate comprising a second opening, the cover plate being selectively attachable to the housing, the housing and the cover plate defining an interior area of the recentering adapter;
a support plate comprising a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a support plate opening;
a cam comprising a first end, a second end, a first arm, and a second arm, the cam configured for the first end to align with the first opening and the second end to align with the second opening as a portion of the cam is positioned within the support plate opening, the cam being rotatable relative to the support plate in each of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction;
a biasing element comprising an orifice, a first leg, and a second leg, the first and second legs defining an adjustable gap between the first and second legs, at least a portion of the second protrusion and the second arm being positioned within the adjustable gap, wherein the biasing element engages the cam to bias the cam to a home position;
a first aperture pair defined by the second protrusion and the cover plate, wherein the first aperture pair is operable to receive a handing body at a first mounting location;
a second aperture pair defined by the second protrusion and the cover plate, wherein the first aperture pair is operable to receive a handing body at a second mounting location different from the first mounting location;
wherein, with the handing body received in the first aperture pair at the first mounting location, the handing body prevents rotation of the cam from the home position in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; and
wherein, with the handing body received in the second aperture pair at the second mounting location, the handing body prevents rotation of the cam from the home position in the first rotational direction.
10 . The recentering adapter of claim 9 , wherein the second protrusion includes a first inner handing aperture and a second inner handing aperture, the first inner handing aperture aligned with a first outer handing aperture of the cover plate to thereby provide the first aperture pair, the second inner handing aperture aligned with a second outer handing aperture of the cover plate to thereby provide the second aperture pair.
11 . The recentering adapter of claim 10 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for the handing body to be selectively removable from the recentering adapter from a location outside of the interior area while the cover plate is securely coupled to the housing.
12 . The recentering adapter of claim 10 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for a driving force outside of the interior area to selectively drive the handing body into engagement with either the first aperture pair or the second aperture pair while the cover plate is securely coupled to the housing.
13 . The recentering adapter of claim 10 , wherein when the handing body is positioned in the second aperture pair, the second leg of the biasing element is displaced by engagement with the second arm as the cam is rotated in the second direction, the first leg remaining engaged with the second protrusion as the cam is rotated in the second direction.
14 . The recentering adapter of claim 10 , wherein the first and second inner handing apertures are positioned on opposite sides of the first protrusion.
15 . The recentering adapter of claim 9 , wherein the support plate and the housing form a monolithic structure.
16 . The recentering adapter of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the cam includes a first aperture configured to receive placement of at least a portion of a tailpiece that is coupled to a first cam, the second end includes a second aperture configured to receive placement of at least a portion of a drive spindle that is coupled to a second cam, and wherein the recentering adapter is configured to bias the first cam to a first home position and bias a second cam coupled to a second home position.
17 . A recentering adapter comprising:
a housing comprising a first opening;
a cover plate comprising a second opening, a first outer handing aperture, and a second outer handing aperture, the cover plate being selectively attachable to the housing, the housing and the cover plate defining an interior area of the recentering adapter;
a support plate comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion comprising a first inner handing aperture and a second inner handing aperture, the first inner handing aperture and the first outer handing aperture providing a first aperture pair, the second inner handing aperture and the second outer handing aperture providing a second aperture pair;
a cam comprising a first end, a second end, a first arm, and a second arm, the cam configured for the first end to align with the first opening and the second end to align with the second opening as a portion of the cam is positioned within the interior area, the cam being configured for a rotational displacement of the cam relative to the support plate; and
a biasing element comprising a first leg and a second leg, the first and second legs defining an adjustable gap between the first and second legs, at least a portion of the second protrusion and the second arm being positioned within the adjustable gap; and
a handing body configured for selective insertion into either the first aperture pair or the second aperture pair,
wherein, when the handing body is selectively positioned in the first aperture pair, the handing body is positioned to engage the first arm to prevent the rotational displacement of the cam away from a home position in a second direction,
wherein, when the handing body is selectively positioned in the second aperture pair, the handing body is positioned to engage the first arm to prevent the rotational displacement of the cam away from the home position in a first direction that is opposite to the second direction,
wherein as the cam is selectively rotated away from the home position in the first direction, the first leg is displaced with the second arm away from the second protrusion as the second leg remains engaged with the second protrusion,
wherein as the cam is selectively rotated away from the home position in the second direction, the second leg is displaced with the second arm away from the second protrusion as the first leg remains engaged with the second protrusion, and
wherein the biasing element is engaged with the cam to bias the cam to the home position.
18 . The recentering adapter of claim 17 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for the handing body to be selectively removable from engagement with either of the first aperture pair and the second aperture pair from a location outside of the interior area while the cover plate is securely coupled to the housing.
19 . The recentering adapter of claim 17 , wherein the recentering adapter is configured for a driving force outside of the interior area to selectively drive the handing body into engagement with either of the first aperture pair and the second aperture pair while the cover plate is securely coupled to the housing.